Adjustable rod weeder point



1 A. SCARLETT 2,125,359

ADJUSTABLE ROD WEEDER POINT Filed March 5, 1937 Patented Aug. 2, 1938 2,125,359

QUNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE ADJUSTABLE ROD WEEDER POINT Arthur AJScarlett, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,

assignor,. by mesne assignments, to International Harvester: Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 5, 1937, Serial No. 129,135

- 8 Claims. (01. 97-42) This invention relates to a rotary rod weeder Still another object is to provide a means for and more particularly to an adjustable shoe and easily and quickly attaching the shoe. a detachable point therefor. Briefly, these and other objects are achieved In the class of agricultural implements in by providing an adjustable rod weeder shoe which subsoil rotary rods are utilized, the proformed with an opening therein and a complevision of bearings which must necessarily opmentary member adapted to fit therein, said shoe erate under the soil is one of the majorproblems. being pivotally, attached to the rod weeder shank. The rods are forced broadside through the soil The complementary member is formed with an as they are rotated by power driven means. As opening eccentrically positioned therein, whereby the rods travel through the subsoil, they uproot angular positioning of the complementary mem- 10 weeds and other plant growth and cultivate the her about the eccentric opening and in the opensoil by loosening and turning over the material. ing in the shoe adjusts the shoe about its point The rod, usually square in cross section, is supof pivotal attachment to the rod weeder shank. ported from the main frame of the implement by An easily attachable and detachable point is fitted a number of beams or shanks, goose-neck in over the end of the shoe and is formed, in such shape, at laterally spaced intervals. Each shank a manner, as to protect the rod weeder point is provided with a bearing shoeatv which the from the entrance of dirt. A more complete journal bearing for the rotary rod is mounted. understanding of the invention may be had from In the construction of rod weeders, a wheeled the following detailed description with reference frame, having goose-neck shanks, is provided to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which: 20 with means for adjusting the depthof the points Figure l is a general side elevation of a conby fulcruming the frame of the weeder about the ventional type of rod weeder showing the shanks axle. I and the means for adjusting the same, and also In rod weeder shoes provided with rounded win the new and improved point in p ti points, it develops in certain conditions that the thereon; I suction of the point is not correct for varying u e 2 s an enlarged side elevational view depths of cultivation. With a fixed point of adof the lower end of the rod weeder shoe and point justment, such as fulcruming the frame on the s owing the shoe and point adjusted at the lowest axle, the suction of the point is reduced as the p t o rod is adjusted deeper into the ground, and while Fi re 3 is a similar view showing the shoe 30 the suctionis correct for operating the rod shaland point adjusted in the uppe pos t n; low, it is not correct foroperating the rod at Figure is a p View Of e Shoe, p t and greater depths. Also, in certain soils, it is found Shank, as hown in Figures 2 and 3, oW the desirable to operate the weeder with the conrelationship between th p int and the rod ventional fiat shoe without a rounded point, and weeder b a g;

while adjustment, of the shoe is desirable if, 15 Figure 5 is a detailed side elevational View Of still more desirable when the'round point is emthe F061 weeder 81108 With s p t y p t ployedo I removed;

It is an important object of the invention, Figure 6 is an liq p rspec ive view of the 40 therefore, to provide a rod weeder shoe secured complement y adjusting r; and, to the rod weeder shank for adjustment'with Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken respect thereto. substantially along the line 1-1 of Figure 3, and Another important object is to form the point, showing more in detail the relationship between easily attachable and detachable point for the e shan shoe, point, rod weeder bearing and forward end of therod weeder shoe. j ti ember- Another important object is to form a point, S Shown in Figure 1, a rod weeder frame I!) in such a manner, that the ,rearward portions is supported on an axle II and wheels I2, only thereof act as a shield for thejrod weeder bearone of which is shown A p u y of gooseing, 7 I I eck shanks 13, only one of which is shown, are

Another object is to provide an opening in the attached to the frame H3 at the rearward end 59 rod weeder shoe and a complementary member thereof. The particular rod weeder, illustrated adapted to fit therein, said complementary memherein for the purpose of describing a preferred her being formed with an adjustable securing embodiment of the invention, is provided with a means for adjustably positioning the shoe on the power drive for the rod anda power lift for the shank it ii i adjustment of the shanks l3. A hitch bar l4 5' Cal is adapted to be connected to a tractor, not shown. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the power drive mechanism is of conventional construction and comprises shafting l5 adapted to be driven from the power take-01f shaft of the tractor. The power lift mechanism is driven from this shafting and operates a rack and pinion H5. The rack is connected to the rod weeder frame I0, all of which is conventional construction. A rod weeder rod I1 is also driven by the power shafting l5, as is customary, and extends horizontally through the shanks I3 behind the axle II and parallel thereto.

At its lower end, each rod weeder shank l3 is provided with a pair of spaced openings. A rod weeder shoe I8 is pivotally secured to the rearward opening by a bolt l9. The shoe has formed therein, an opening and forwardly thereof, a larger opening 2|. In the illustration of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening 20 is shown as being hexagonal in shape, although any desired shape may be used. As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, a complementary adjusting member 22 is fitted into the opening 20. The member is provided with an eccentrically positioned opening or bore 23 for a purpose to appear presently.

As best shown in Figure 7, a bolt 24 is inserted through the eccentric opening 23 and through the opening 26 and the rod weeder shank l3. It will be understood thus far, that in as much as the shoe i8 is pivotally attached to the rod weeder shank l3 by the bolt IS, the complementary adjusting member 22 together with the bolt 24 forms an adjustable securing means for adjusting the shoe l8 with respect to the shank 13. By removing the complementary member 22 and reinserting it in the opening 26 at different angular positions with respect to the eccentric opening 23, various positions of the shoe l8 may be obtained.

The rod weeder shoe [8 is provided at its for- Ward end in the opening 2 I, hereinbefore referred to, with a support for the rod [1 which comprises a pair of complementary bearing sections 25 secured to the shoe l8 by a bolt 25', and a flanged bearing member 26 adapted to be encircled by the bearing sections 25 for rotation therein. The rod 11, as is conventional, is non-rotatably carried by the bearing member 26.

As best shown in Figure 7, the complementary bearing sections 25 are narrower at their forward ends than at their rear ends, the Width of their forward ends being substantially equal to the thickness of the shoe l8. In rod weeder shoes of customary design, a gap is left at each side of the shoe adjacent the flanged bearing 26 and the narrow front portions of the complementary bearing sections 25. Because of the gaps, a considerable amount of soil obtained entrance to the bearing surface between the bearing 26 of the complementary bearing sections 25.

To overcome the problem of the soil entering the rod weeder bearing, besides facilitating operation of the rod weeder through certain kinds of soil, a point 21 has been provided and constitutes a part of the present invention. This point is preferably cast and is fitted over the forward end of the rod weeder shoe l8 and secured thereto by a securing means. As is shown in the drawing, the seeming means is in the form of a nail 28 extending through the point 21 and the shoe 3. The nail 28 is preferably bent over at one end to hold the point 21 in place.

As best shown in Figures 4 and/7, the point 2! is considerably wider than the shoe 1 8, and at its rearward end is positioned adjacent therod weeder bearing to form a protective shield for the bearing surface between the bearing member 26 and the complementary member 25. Thus far, it will be seen that provision is made for adjusting the shoe 18 with respect to the shank 13 by changing the position of the complementary member 22, as previously mentioned; Adjustment of the shoe l8 becomes necessary when the shank I 3 is adjusted deeper into the ground as the suction of the shoe is reduced. And, conversely, as the shank i3 is adjusted up for the rod weeder to operate shallow, the suction on the point is increased; therefore, the adjustment is necessary to maintain the proper suction on the 7 point.

It will be understood that the point 21 may be removed when certain soil conditions make such removal desirable. However, when the point 21 is in place on the shoe l8, it becomes more necessary to provide means for maintaining correct suction thereon. The point 21, as previously disclosed, prevents, toa large extent, the entrance of soil into the rod weeder bearing. 7

Thus, it will be apparent that a means has been provided on a rod weeder shoe for overcoming. certain difiiculties met in operating the rod weeder in various kinds of soil. It will also be apparent that the point 21 may be removed and the rod weeder operatedwithout the same. The adjusting means, of course, is operative with or Without the point 21 in place; although, the advantages obtainable from the adjusting means, as

provided herein, become more apparent when the adjusting means is used in conjunction with the point 21.

It will be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the structure has been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

.What is claimed is:

1. In a rod weeder having a shank, the combination with the shank, of a shoe, means pivot-ally securing the shoe to the shank,.said shoe formed with an opening therein, a complementary member adaptedto cooperate with theopen ing in the shoe, and a bolt extending eccentrically through said complementary member and through the shank to adjust the shoe about its pivotal connection with the shank for varying the suction of the shoe.

2. ,In a rod weeder having a shank, the combination with the shank, of a shoe, means pivotally securing the shoe to the shank, said Since formed with an opening therein, a member adapt ed to 'fit in said opening and provided with an eccentric, bore ,therethrough, a bolt extending through said bore and through the shank, whereby the member may bemovedjangularly about said bolt to vary the position of the shoe with respect to the shank. V

,3. In a rod weeder having a'shank, the combination'with the shank, of a shoe, means pivotally securing the shoe to the shank, said shoe formed with a hexagonal opening therein, a. hex-v agonal member adapted to fit, in said opening and provided with an eccentric bore therethrough, a bolt extending through said bore and through the rod weeder shank whereby the mem-v ber may be moved angularly about said bolt to' vary the position of the shoe with respect to the shank.

4. In a rod weeder having a shank forgsup porting a weeder rod and in combination, a narrow pointed shoe secured to said shank, a ground engaging point removably and rigidly secured to said shoe, said point having angularly related'ground engaging surfaces, said shoe being adjustably pivoted to the shank on a transverse horizontalaxis whereby the angles of soil engagement of the surfaces are alterable, and a journal member carried by the shoe for supporting the weeder rod.

5. In a rod weeder having a shank for supporting a weeder rod and in combination, a shoe having a ground engaging point secured to said shank, said point having angularly related ground engaging surfaces, said shoe being mounted on the shank for adjustment on a transverse horizontal axis whereby the angles of soil engagement of the surfaces are alterable, and a journal member carried by the shoe for supporting the weeder rod.

6. A rod weeder comprising a wheeled frame structure, a draft frame pivotally connected on a transverse axis to the frame structure, means for adjusting the position of the frame structure about its wheels as an axis relative to the draft frame, a shank carried rigidly by the frame structure, a shoe having an engaging point secured to said shank, said point providing angularly related ground engaging surfaces, said shoe being mounted on the shank for adjustment on a transverse horizontal axis whereby the angles of soil engagement of the point'surfaces are alterable, a journal member carried by the shoe, a weeder rod rotatably mounted in said journal, and means for driving said rod.

'7. A rod weeder comprising a wheeled frame structure, a draft frame pivotally connected on a transverse axis to the frame structure, means for adjusting the position of the frame structure about its Wheels as an axis relative to the draft frame, a shank carried rigidly by the frame structure, a narrow pointed shoe secured to said shank, a relatively thick ground engaging point secured to said shoe, said point having angularly related ground engaging surfaces, said shoe being adjustably pivoted to the shank on a transverse horizontal axis whereby the angles of soil engagement of the point surfaces are alterable, a journal member carried by the shoe, a weeder rod rotatably mounted in said journal, and means for driving said rod.

8. In a rod weeder having a shank, the combination with the shank, of a shoe, means pivotally securing the shoe to the shank, said shoe formed with; a polygonal opening therein, a polygonal member adapted to fit in said opening and provided with an eccentric bore therethrough, a bolt extending through said bore and through the rod weeder shank whereby the member may be moved angularly about said bolt to vary the position of the shoe with respect to the shank.

ARTHUR A. SCARLETT. 

